*'''Neighboring Counties''': {{PAGENAME}}&nbsp;'''residents''' may also have records in <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Adams County, Pennsylvania" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_County,_Pennsylvania (accessed 17 July 2012).</ref>[[Lawrence County, Pennsylvania|Lawrence]] (north){{•}}[[Butler County, Pennsylvania|Butler]] (east){{•}}[[Columbiana County, Ohio|Columbiana County, Ohio]] and [[Hancock County, West Virginia|Hancock County, West Virginia]] (west){{•}}[[Washington County, Pennsylvania|Washington]] (south) {{•}}and [[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Allegheny]] (southeast)

*'''Neighboring Counties''': {{PAGENAME}}&nbsp;'''residents''' may also have records in <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Adams County, Pennsylvania" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_County,_Pennsylvania (accessed 17 July 2012).</ref>[[Lawrence County, Pennsylvania|Lawrence]] (north){{•}}[[Butler County, Pennsylvania|Butler]] (east){{•}}[[Columbiana County, Ohio|Columbiana County, Ohio]] and [[Hancock County, West Virginia|Hancock County, West Virginia]] (west){{•}}[[Washington County, Pennsylvania|Washington]] (south) {{•}}and [[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Allegheny]] (southeast)

*'''24 September 1788:''' Nearly all of Beaver fell into [[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Allegheny]] County when it was created. a small southern portion remained in [[Washington County, Pennsylvania|Washington]] County.

*'''24 September 1788:''' Nearly all of Beaver fell into [[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Allegheny]] County when it was created. a small southern portion remained in [[Washington County, Pennsylvania|Washington]] County.

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*'''20 March 1849:''' [[Lawrence County, Pennsylvania|Lawrence]] County was created, giving Beaver County its current boundaries. <ref name="HBG">[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50140092&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.''] (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 181. [FHL book 973 D27e 2002].</ref>

+

*'''20 March 1849:''' [[Lawrence County, Pennsylvania|Lawrence]] County was created, giving Beaver County its current boundaries. <ref name="HBG">[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50140092&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.''] (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 181. [FHL book 973 D27e 2002].</ref>

Moravians who came in the 1770s were perhaps the earliest religious group to arrive in the county, and they came to preach to the Indians. The early settlers were almost exclusively Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who arrived by 1785. Methodists arrived in the early 1800s. They kept very poor records. Episcopalians arrived around 1799. The minister of that church performed many of the early marriages in the county.<ref> ''The History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania : including its early settlement, its erection into a separate county, its subsequent growth and development, sketches of its boroughs, villages and townships. . .'' (Evansville, Indiana : Unigraphic, 1980) {{FHL|104084|item|disp=FHL book 974.892 H2h 1980}}.</ref>

Moravians who came in the 1770s were perhaps the earliest religious group to arrive in the county, and they came to preach to the Indians. The early settlers were almost exclusively Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who arrived by 1785. Methodists arrived in the early 1800s. They kept very poor records. Episcopalians arrived around 1799. The minister of that church performed many of the early marriages in the county.<ref> ''The History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania : including its early settlement, its erection into a separate county, its subsequent growth and development, sketches of its boroughs, villages and townships. . .'' (Evansville, Indiana : Unigraphic, 1980) {{FHL|104084|item|disp=FHL book 974.892 H2h 1980}}.</ref>

Revision as of 22:24, 15 May 2013

Beaver County, Pennsylvania genealogy and family history research page. Guide to genealogy, history, and courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, Revolutionary War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.

Census

There are no county or state census records available for Pennsylvania. County and city tax records can be used as a substitute when census records are not available.

Church Records

Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. In Pennsylvania, church records are often used as a substitute for birth, marriage, and death information. For general information about Pennsylvania denominations, view the Pennsylvania Church Records wiki page.

Moravians who came in the 1770s were perhaps the earliest religious group to arrive in the county, and they came to preach to the Indians. The early settlers were almost exclusively Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who arrived by 1785. Methodists arrived in the early 1800s. They kept very poor records. Episcopalians arrived around 1799. The minister of that church performed many of the early marriages in the county.[4]

Finding Church Records at Other Repositories

Additional church records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Beaver County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Church Records in online catalogs like:

The Archives of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh contains all sacramental records older than 70 years beginning in 1808 for parishes in the following counties of Pennsylvania: Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington. Sacramental records include baptismal, first communion, confirmation, marriage and death registers. The only records older than 70 years that ate open for research are death records. They are released without restriction. The research can only be done by Archive staff. Research fees are charged at an hourly rate. For more information about obtaining records of the Diocese and its records click here. For records before 1808 researchers should contact:Diocese of Greensburg723 E. Pittsburgh StreetGreensburg, PA 15601Telephone: (412) 837-0901 Fax: (412) 837-0857Website: www.catholicgbg.org

Court Records

Beaver County, Pennsylvania Genealogy court records are housed at the Beaver County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Courthouse. For many counties copies of court records may be found at the Pennsylvania State Archives and in the FamilySearch collection. Note that within these collections some films may contain the same records, but have different titles. Other titles are not duplicates. See Finding Court Records at other repositories within this section for links to the online catalogs for these two collections. Films at the Pennsylvania State Archives are not available for inter-library loan. If court records are available FamilySearch films may be ordered at a local Family History Center.

Court of Common Pleas

The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of Pennsylvania. Major civil and criminal cases are heard in these courts. Judges also decide cases involving adoption, divorce, child custody, abuse, juvenile delinquency, estates, guardianships, charitable organizations and many other matters. The Common Pleas courts are organized into 60 judicial districts. Beaver County, Pennsylvania Genealogy has its own judicial district. Judges of the Common Pleas courts are elected to 10-year terms. A president judge and a court administrator serve in each judicial district.[5]

Clerk of the Court

The Clerk of Courts prepares and maintains the records for the Criminal Division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk signs and affixes the Seal of the Courts to all writs and processes, administers oaths and affirmations, and assumes custody of the seal and records of the Courts. The Clerk certifies and distributes orders of the Court. The Clerk also certifies and prepares bills of costs for the defendants and utilizes the computerized financial management system to disburse fines, costs and restitution.[6] For the Beaver County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Clerk of Courts address see the Courthouse section on this page.

Prothonotary

The office of the Prothontary is the custodian of all civil matters in the county. This includes naturalization, immigration, equity actions, judgements, federal and local tax leins, city liens, family court, arbitrations, license suspension appeals, appeals to higher court, commercial code filings, applications for passports and divorce proceedings. See the Courthouse section on this page for the Beaver County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Prothonotary office information.

Orphan's Court

See Vital Records The Orphans' Court is responsible for a wide range of matters. The name of the Court is derived from the more general definition of "orphan," that being a person or thing that is without protective affiliation or sponsorship. This would include those not capable of handling their own affairs, minors, incapacitated persons, decedents estates, nonprofit corporations and trusts. It is the role of the Court to ensure that the best interests of the person or entity are not compromised.

It is believed the name of this court was borrowed from the Court of Orphans of the city of London, England which had the care and guardianship of children of deceased citizens, in their minority.[7]

For Beaver County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Orphans' Court contact information see the Courthouse section on this page.

Finding Court Records at Other Repositories

Additional court records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Beaver County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Court Records in online catalogs like:

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic Groups

Germans

Gazetteers

Genealogy

History

Published Histories

Land and Property

Land records in Beaver County began in 1800. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Beaver, Pennsylvania.

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts, indexes, mortgages, leases, grants, sheriff sales, land patents, and maps. Property records include liens as well as livestock brands and estray records.

Maps

Ancestor Tracks has posted free, downloadable images of the township maps showing landowners from Map of Lawrence and Beaver Counties from Actual Surveys by N.S. Ames which was published in 1860. While the physical maps are in the public domain, the images we have taken of the maps belong to us and are not to be used to commercially. We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks.

Military

Revolutionary War

Naturalization and Citizenship

Naturalization records can contain information about immigration and nativity. Prior to 1906, it is rare to find the town of origin in naturalization records. See Pennsylvania Naturalization for more information about the types of records and availability.

Naturalizations granted at the county level were kept by the office of the Prothonotary. Naturalizations could also be granted on the Federal Court level.

Naturalization records available for Beaver County, Pennsylvania include the following: Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

Two books by Mark H Welchley, used together, provide abstracts from the Beaver County Argus newspaper from 1830 - 1858. Argus Genealogical Gleanings covers 1830-1838 FHL book 974.892 V28w and Beaver County, Pennsylvania Marriages from Beaver County NewspapersFHL book 974.892 V2w covers 1830-1878. Note that the content of these books do not overlap, despite the overlapping of the dates.

Obituaries

Obituaries are generally found in local newspapers where the person died. However, sometimes an obituary is found in the location from which he or she originated. To find an obituary, see the information under the Newspaper heading

Sometimes the fastest way of finding obituaries is to call or email the local public library in the area where the person died. If the library does not have newspapers, a librarian often will know where they are kept. If a death date is known, and the newspapers are at the library, someone on staff will usually make a search for a small fee, or will indicate someone who will do the search.

Occupations

Indentured Servants

Periodicals

Poorhouse, Almshouse

Probate Records

Probate matters in Beaver County, Pennsylvania Genealogy are handled by the Orphans' Court and start when the county was created. To obtain original probate records, contact the Orphan's Court in the County Courthouse.

In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates of decedents, incompetents, and minors; appointment and control of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills involving probate matters; inheritance tax appeals and various petitions and motions.

Online Probate Records

Original probate records for some Pennsylvania counties are available free online as digital images at FamilySearch.org. The dates vary significantly for each county and not all counties are listed. Some counties may only have probate indexes. This Pennsylvania collection of images may be browsed through the links listed below:

Repositories

Archives

The Pennsylvania Archivescollection contains county archive records that can be searched onsite. Currently the Archives' staff cannot provide research or make copies of these records. Their collections include Almshouse Registers; Tax records; Birth, Death and Marriage Indexes and Records; Midwife records; African American records; Wills; Deeds; Naturalizations; Coroner's inquests; and Orphan's Court dockets. A list of the Archive's county holdings are on Microfilm or Manuscript form.

Birth and death records are available from 1893 through 1906. You may obtain copies by sending in a written request to the Register of Wills. A $4.00 research fee (per name) is required at the time of the request. A check or money order should be made payable to “Register of Wills.” Also include a self-addressed stamped envelope. There is a maximum of 3 names per request. Courthouse staff will do the research and advise you if the information is available. The cost of a birth record is $4.00. Death records are $3.00. Send a check or money order and the information will be forwarded to you.

To obtain an old marriage license, mail your request to the Register of Wills. There is a $4.00 research fee per marriage with a maximum 3 marriages per request. Make check or money order payable to “Register of Wills.”

Please provide the following:

Your name

Check or money order for the research fee payable to “Register Of Wills”

Your email address

Self-addressed stamped envelope

Daytime telephone number

The name of the Groom and Bride (maiden name) and the date of the marriage (within 5 years if you do not know the exact date)

A notification will be sent by email of the results of the search and additional fees for copies. A certified copy of a marriage license is $5.00. A copy of a license application is $1.00.

Taxation

Vital Records

Vital records are handled by the County Orphans' Court. Between the years 1852-1855 Pennsylvania made a failed attempt to record birth, marriage and death events at the county level. While the records for that time period are available, there were few events recorded. County marriage records were kept in earnest in 1885. Births and deaths, at the county level, were begun in 1893 and kept through 1905. Abstracts and copies of vital records are available for some counties, but most are incomplete. For the most complete set of records, always contact the County Orphans' Court.

Births

Early births 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.

Indexes for Pennsylvania birth records are available through the Department of of Health for 1906 and 1907. Once an individual is located in the index a non certified Birth certificate can be obtained by writing and sending $3.00 to:

Pre-1810 – Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties. Includes 35,000 marriage records from vol. VIII of of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.

1725-1976 - Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1709-1940 - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is not necessarily intended to index any specific set of records. This index is not complete for any particular place or region. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index or Vital Records Index collections.

Divorce

Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary. The office of the Prothonotary is located in the courthouse building.

Deaths

Early deaths 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.

Indexes for Pennsylvania death records are available through the Department of Health for 1906 through 1962. Once an individual is located in the index a non certified death certificate can be obtained obtained by writing and sending $3.00 to:

↑The History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania : including its early settlement, its erection into a separate county, its subsequent growth and development, sketches of its boroughs, villages and townships. . . (Evansville, Indiana : Unigraphic, 1980) FHL book 974.892 H2h 1980.

↑ Harold Frederic, William C. Frederick III with William J. McMaster Sr., Path of Blood: The Untold Story of the Kittanning PA. Regiment in the American Revolution (Kittanning, Pa.: W.C. Frederick, 1998). FHL Book 974.8 M2ff